Letters can be sent via:
_________________________________________________________
Ministry of Justice Japan
webmaster@moj.go.jp

http://www.iijnet.or.jp/sorifu/kantei/foreign/comment.html --
Home page for Comments to Japanese Prime Minister's Office
_________________________________________________________

Note:
This is not the first time this sort of thing has happened! In fact, a few years ago a woman whose Japanese husband died unexpectedly, was told to leave even though she was still caring for their son who was still in high school! Soon after (a huge outpouring of sentiment from a combined Japanese and Foreign Community) the policy was ammended to be more lenient towards foreign mothers of Japanese Nationals.

Cornelia
_________________________________________________________
DEMONSTRATION MARCH IN TOKYO AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AND INJUSTICE OF JAPANESE MINISTREY OF JUSTICE

Support "Friends of Ken Massey" in a demonstration march from Tokyo Station to Ebisu Station on Sat. July 22 starting at 10:00 a.m. on the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station.

Ken is a 17-year, law-abiding resident of Japan with two Japanese children after a 10-year marriage that ended in divorce. Immigration has refused to issue Ken a new visa saying he has no reason to be in Japan. Ken has never overstayed a visa and has been held in detention since June 16 after the former Minister of "Justice," Hideo Usui issued an order for his deportation.

Our message that we wish to deliver the government of Japan, one of the 8 major "developed" countries in the world, is the following:

a. A man who has lived and worked in Japan for 17 years with no criminal record should not be forced to leave for no reason (failing to notify Immigration of an address change is not law violation that warrants
deportation.)

b. A man with Japanese children has a right to be near to and support his children, and THE JAPANESE CHILDREN have a right to this protected by the Japanese constitution, even if the spouse is divorced.

c. Deporting Ken Massey would be a severe act with no justification and a travesty of justice in a so-called developed democratic nation like Japan.

People suffering from other visa-related injustices are also welcome and ENCOURAGED to join the march. This will be a good opportunity for people from different backgrounds and experiences to come together, make new networks and support each other.

If you missed the previous UFJ posting, see the full Ken Massey story at:
http://www.japantraveler.com/issues/0007/freekenny.html

If you will attend the march, please send an e-mail message to jgibbs@joho.com with "attend" in the header.

Sincerely yours, James C. Gibbs
Managing Editor, Japan Traveler Magazine

Final Outcome:
S Korean woman united with children in Japan
Wednesday, May 10, 2006

OSAKA: A South Korean woman was allowed to reenter Japan on Tuesday, after being deported in April last year, so that she can live together with her two Japanese-born children who stayed behind Osaka.

The Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau designated Ko Un Yol, 40, as "a fixed domicile resident" after she arrived at Kansai airport from South Korea.

* * * *
Back-up story:
Mom, Japan-born kids avoid deportation, for now
The Japan Times: Saturday, Feb. 19, 2005

OSAKA (Kyodo) Immigration authorities here Friday allowed a South Korean woman and her two children -- who were born and raised in Japan -- to extend their provisional permit to stay in the country for another month, averting immediate deportation.

The Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau relayed its decision to Ko Un Yol, 39, her 12-year-old daughter, Lee Yu Ki, and 8-year-old son, Lee Yu Tae, when Ko visited the Nishi-Nippon Immigration Center in Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture, to seek an extension of their provisional permit to stay.

Friday was the deadline immigration officials gave the family last month to leave Japan voluntarily or face deportation since their provisional release status was terminated.

"I am relieved. Today is Yu Ki's graduation at her elementary school. I can now go and see her without being anxious," Ko said.

Ko and her supporters have repeatedly urged immigration officials to consider the case on humanitarian grounds.

She and her children live in Osaka's Hirano Ward.

The Supreme Court denied their requests for residency status in October.

A provisional release provides permission to stay in Japan based on certain conditions and usually needs to be renewed every month. It allows foreign nationals to remain in Japan temporarily and does not waive deportation orders placed on them.

"The two children can only speak Japanese. The Japanese government is violating the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child by depriving them of their educational opportunities," one of the family's supporters said.

Ko came to Japan in 1991 with a temporary visitor's visa and gave birth to the children, who were fathered by a South Korean man with permanent residency status in Japan.
©All rights reserved